Saturday, August 16, 2008

"When I first heard Elvis's voice, I just knew that I wasn't going to work for anybody, and nobody was going to be my boss ... Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail. I thank God for Elvis Presley."-Bob Dylan

"My mouth feels like Bob Dylan's been sleeping in it."-Elvis Presley

Today is the thirty-first anniversary of the King's rise from his throne to brighter pastures. Unfortunately, it was (allegedly) the proverbial porcelain throne that Elvis was crowning when he left this world. He had become a bloated parody of himself, living in insular isolation, and protected from the outside world. As I was compiling this post, of Elvis and Dylan, I tried to think of what these two artists - radically different - shared in common. They shared a lot actually. The two most influential singular performers to come along in the twentieth century, they both had to protect themselves from the hysteria of a hyper-fame. Elvis as the King, and Dylan as "the voice of a generation." What a burden it must been for them. Dylan was befuddled, disgusted, and probably genuinely frightened by the pressures foisted on him by the media and rabid fans. Enough so, that he had to retreat from public eye while still in his twenties. Elvis had a team of protectors - Colonel Tom Parker and later The Memphis Mafia. Elvis died relatively young. Bob still takes his show in the road a couple hundred times a year. I guess Elvis would be doing the same had he survived. Maybe not, but he didn't survive. It's been suggested that they shared a mutual admiration for one another. Dylan certainly admired Elvis, but more than likely Elvis had more disdain and envy for Dylan. Dylan wrote "Went to See The Gypsy" about going to meet Elvis at a hotel in Minnesota. Ironically, today and for the last few decades, Dylan is the Gypsy. The song is probably fictional. Either way, it doesn't matter. They made these recordings, and we shall listen to them.